Blake, Sessions Lift Lakers to 3-1 Lead Over Nuggets

Late 3-pointers from Steve Blake and Ramon Sessions give the Lakers a 92-88 win in Game 4 at Denver

Late 3-pointers from Ramon Sessions and Steve Blake sealed a 92-88 win Sunday for the Lakers in  Game 4 of their NBA Western Conference quarterfinal against the Denver Nuggets.

The Lakers lead the series 3-1 and can eliminate the Nuggets Tuesday night in Game 5 at Staples Center.

The Lakers trailed 28-26 at the end of the first quarter as Denver's Andre Miller came off the bench to score 10 points in just five minutes of play. Denver's bench outscored LA's 19-8 in the first half, helping the Nuggets carry a 51-45 lead into the second half.

The Nuggets also scored 15 points off eight first-half turnovers by the Lakers.

Kobe Bryant scored 12 points and Bynum, who struggled in a frustrating Game 3 for LA, added 11 in the first half.

Los Angeles stormed back to open the third quarter with a 12-5 run to take a 57-56 lead, but Denver held a 71-70 lead entering the final 12 minutes.

A hard-fought fourth quarter came down to the final minute when Denver's Danilo Gallinari tied the game at 86 with a long two-pointer from the corner. Sessions answered with a three with 48 seconds remaining.

A goaltending call on Denver gave the ball back to LA and Blake nailed a three with 18 seconds remaining, giving the Lakers a 92-86 lead.

Bryant led LA with 22 points and Bynum bounced back from his disappointing Game 3 performance to add 19 points. Pau Gasol finished with 13 points and nine rebounds.

But contributions from Blake and Sessions, and energized play from Jordan Hill, gave the Lakers the edge in the fourth quarter. Hill finished with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Sessions scored 12 points and Blake finished with 10 points.

The game was interrupted in the first half when a woman who was seated court-side wandered onto the court as Denver's Ty Lawson crossed half-court. The woman walked aimlessly in the general direction of the Nuggets' basket before she was escorted off the court. The Associated Press reported that she was arrested for investigation of trespassing, citing Denver police.

As she was escorted from the court, police told the AP that the woman asked, "Where's Kenyon?" That was likely a reference to former Nugget Kenyon Martin, who now plays for the LA Clippers.
 

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